In an apparent case of ambush marketing Lotus has timed the release of the first image of its E22 to co-incide with the McLaren launch. The car appears to have a different take on the nose section compared with other cars seen so far, with an unusual twin-pronged approach.

The team issued the image just as McLaren was unveiling its car online in what was clearly an attempt to gain some positive PR just hours after Lotus revealed that team principal Eric Boullier was leaving – possibly for a new job at McLaren.

The car now carries the logos of Pastor Maldonado’s sponsor PDVSA, while a new deal with Yotaphone was announced today. Coca-Cola brand Burn appears to be missing.

McLaren has shown the first pictures of its MP4-29, showing, as expected, a not very pretty nose.

Intriguingly Martin Whitmarsh is not quoted in the media kit accompanying the launch, with managing director Jonathan Neale and sporting director Sam Michael doing the talking. It’s believed that Whitmarsh will no longer be team principal, with former Lotus boss Eric Boullier tipped to take over.

Alex Gurney turned a best lap of 1:38.270 in the 15-minute Prototype class qualifying session. (Photo: John Dagys)

Alex Gurney will go down in the history books as being the first pole-sitter for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, having peddled his GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP to the top spot in qualifying for this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The two-time GRAND-AM champion turned a best lap of 1:38.270 in the 15-minute Prototype class qualifying session, edging out the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP of Richard Westbrook by 0.217 seconds.

This weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona marks a number of firsts, including the highly anticipated debut of Porsche’s all-new factory GT Le Mans team, as well the first outing of the German manufacturer’s 911 RSR “Evo” on U.S. soil.

Having completed a successful rollout in last year’s FIA WEC season-ending Six Hours of Bahrain, the newest evolution 911 is now set to take on the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship as part of the factory two-car CORE autosport-run effort.

The new 911 RSR features a number of updates over the 2013 Le Mans class-winning model, including a revised front bumper and radiator placement, a 1 inch wider rim on the rear axle and a 85mm wider rear wing, the latter two thanks to waivers from the ACO.